A History Of Research On John 8.6, 8

10.1163/ej.9789004173941.i-320.10

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Chapter Summary

This chapter surveys the numerous and various interpretations of John 8.6, 8, where Jesus writes on the ground during his confrontation with the scribes and the Pharisees. Following this survey, it presents a new interpretation of Jesus' actions in these verses, arguing that the text itself highlights not what or how Jesus writes, but rather that he writes. That is, John 8.6, 8 is a claim that Jesus was capable of writing (grapho-literacy). The chapter then argues in detail not only that this is the correct interpretation of John 8.6, 8, but that this interpretation is also the key to understanding when, where, and why an interpolator eventually inserted Pericope Adulterae (PA) into Gospel of John (GJohn).